The Use of Corporal Codes in the Practice and Teaching of Martial Arts

The corporal attitude mostly determines the way we communicate, both in martial arts and in the arts of direct expression such as theatre. Corporal codes refer to our awareness, to the personal image that we want to present. In martial arts, especially Japanese ones, the attitude is important and is ruled by a multitude of codes, the first of which being the outfit. The place where we practise is strictly regulated too. My puppet theatre experience provided me with the keys to martial practice, and conversely, martial arts freed me of the pressure of facing the audience.

Born in 1945, trained as a decorator and worked on building sites for two years before graduating from a fine arts school. From 1969 to 2007 he taught visual arts. From 1969 to 2001 he ran a puppet theatre, Marionnettes de la Rose des Vents, in Lausanne. He has been training in Japanese martial arts since 1962.